what do you miss about home?
- Thread starter aussiegal
- Start date
Little Monster
Registered User
Hong kong is my home. But I do miss the university life in the States:
1. Cosco
2. Walmart
3. Ease of driving around to the other states or even to Canada
4. Open space
5. Fresh air
6. Fresh pretzel
7. Carl's Junior burger
8. Drive thru McDonald's, Bank, etc
9. Huge parking space and free
10. SNOW
1. Cosco
2. Walmart
3. Ease of driving around to the other states or even to Canada
4. Open space
5. Fresh air
6. Fresh pretzel
7. Carl's Junior burger
8. Drive thru McDonald's, Bank, etc
9. Huge parking space and free
10. SNOW
babymommy2
Registered User
These lists are making me so sad! My husband has been talking lately about living there. I've always thought of Hk as a nice place to visit, a bad place to live, especially with children. So many people are listing things that are so basic: clean air, grass, safe food, free schooling. That is so so sad!
radicalmum
Registered User
Haha... nice thread!
- the short enjoyable walks/strolls down the streets..
- the smiles and the "hi"
- having nice, non-culturally challenged conversations with my beloved friends and family (mainly to express: no fears of being misunderstood)
- the live bands in outdoor areas...
- the lowered standard of living.. but better standard of living and lifestyle (housing mainly)..
- the weather...the greenery and the air quality
- the talkative and entertaining taxi drivers but courtesy and safe at the same time..
- affordable, very decent and reliable medical care
- affordable and standardized education system
- baby and family friendly places to go and activities
- well maintained public pools
- clean, safe and well maintained buildings
- much more "smoke free", since being a mum, found that it's a real good idea to have more outdoors/public areas banned from smoking.
mostly, really missed "being myself"... in a place where we are brought up to be part of.. the whole culture is tailored made for us(or vice versa) once upon a time before we bid our heartland goodbye to seek an fruitful life experience overseas.. but... please don't misunderstood... i'm don't hate anything here, just felt therapeutic to share it out loud since this thread certainly pulls my heartstrings..
- the short enjoyable walks/strolls down the streets..
- the smiles and the "hi"
- having nice, non-culturally challenged conversations with my beloved friends and family (mainly to express: no fears of being misunderstood)
- the live bands in outdoor areas...
- the lowered standard of living.. but better standard of living and lifestyle (housing mainly)..
- the weather...the greenery and the air quality
- the talkative and entertaining taxi drivers but courtesy and safe at the same time..
- affordable, very decent and reliable medical care
- affordable and standardized education system
- baby and family friendly places to go and activities
- well maintained public pools
- clean, safe and well maintained buildings
- much more "smoke free", since being a mum, found that it's a real good idea to have more outdoors/public areas banned from smoking.
mostly, really missed "being myself"... in a place where we are brought up to be part of.. the whole culture is tailored made for us(or vice versa) once upon a time before we bid our heartland goodbye to seek an fruitful life experience overseas.. but... please don't misunderstood... i'm don't hate anything here, just felt therapeutic to share it out loud since this thread certainly pulls my heartstrings..
I know, isn't it sad! It's weird how things that really should be a given aren't over here. I spoke to a local friend of mine about pollution and what locals think and she said they're so used to the pollution they don't even think about it. The grass thing is another thing that really really bothers me. Any grass here is actually cordoned off so no one can use it. Crazy.
I really hope three years will be our max here! There's so much to love about HK but I'm realising that some of the things I thought I could do without for a few years are actually non-negotiables.
Some of the things I miss only Aussie's will understand.
1 Triple J radio. (yes I know I can listen on the internet, but I want it in the car).
2 Good live music in a pub, plus Falls Festival , Homebake, Big Day Out.
3 Being able to watch AFL live.
4 Good supermarkets.
5 Friends and family.
6 People that say excuse me and thank you.
BUT... If I left HK i'd miss...
1 Having so many great mum friends who also don't work, that I can hang out with.
2 Being able to go out any night you want on the spur of the moment because I have a fantastic helper to look after my kids.
3 Other friends who can go out on the spur of the moment because they too have great helpers.
4 Well, my fantasticc helper for every reason really.
5 Being able to travel to amazing destinations for a quick few days break.
6 Cheap taxi's that you don't have to wait hours for.
7 My children having the oportunity to be friends with people from all over the world ( and me too ).
8 My friends.
1 Triple J radio. (yes I know I can listen on the internet, but I want it in the car).
2 Good live music in a pub, plus Falls Festival , Homebake, Big Day Out.
3 Being able to watch AFL live.
4 Good supermarkets.
5 Friends and family.
6 People that say excuse me and thank you.
BUT... If I left HK i'd miss...
1 Having so many great mum friends who also don't work, that I can hang out with.
2 Being able to go out any night you want on the spur of the moment because I have a fantastic helper to look after my kids.
3 Other friends who can go out on the spur of the moment because they too have great helpers.
4 Well, my fantasticc helper for every reason really.
5 Being able to travel to amazing destinations for a quick few days break.
6 Cheap taxi's that you don't have to wait hours for.
7 My children having the oportunity to be friends with people from all over the world ( and me too ).
8 My friends.
1. family
2. fresh air and blue skies
3. a bigger house and a backyard
4. fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables
4. my favourite chocolate (Margaret River Chocolate Factory, Western Australia), ok last one not exactly essential !
But once I leave HK, I'll have a similar list, something like:
1. a reasonable tax rate
2. public transport
3. our helper
4. my daughter's school
5. the view from my apartment (when the pollution allows us to actually see it, about 2 weeks per year)
6. Ben + Jerry's icecream
7. Being able to get strawberries all year round
2. fresh air and blue skies
3. a bigger house and a backyard
4. fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables
4. my favourite chocolate (Margaret River Chocolate Factory, Western Australia), ok last one not exactly essential !
But once I leave HK, I'll have a similar list, something like:
1. a reasonable tax rate
2. public transport
3. our helper
4. my daughter's school
5. the view from my apartment (when the pollution allows us to actually see it, about 2 weeks per year)
6. Ben + Jerry's icecream
7. Being able to get strawberries all year round
1. My family and friends
2. Nice park and playground to take baby too
3. Wal-Mart, Costco, Sams Club (superstores)
4. Affordible clothing stores, that have bigger western sizes (I.E Bras, shoes)
5. My hair dresser
6. TIM HORTONS in Canada
7. Winter/Christmas time SNOW, and cold (Im crazy I know)
8. Christmas with my family (due to my husbands job we cant go home for Christmas)
9. TV Channels
10. Driving (we dont drive here and we dont have a car here)
2. Nice park and playground to take baby too
3. Wal-Mart, Costco, Sams Club (superstores)
4. Affordible clothing stores, that have bigger western sizes (I.E Bras, shoes)
5. My hair dresser
6. TIM HORTONS in Canada
7. Winter/Christmas time SNOW, and cold (Im crazy I know)
8. Christmas with my family (due to my husbands job we cant go home for Christmas)
9. TV Channels
10. Driving (we dont drive here and we dont have a car here)
Shenzhennifer
Registered User
I forgot one:
A huge variety of beers everywhere you are - shop, restaurant, bar...
A huge variety of beers everywhere you are - shop, restaurant, bar...
Aussiegal, I feel the same way! When my husband and I were deciding to move to Hong Kong we spoke about coming for a minimum of two years. After a couple of months we decided perhaps five years. We have been here for one year now and I am terribly homesick so was very happy to find this thread, I feel the same way as you!
So we are originally from Australia and here is what I miss:
1. Clean air and clear blue skies;
2. Safe and affordable fresh food;
3. Cheese, olives and bratwurst sausages from Victoria Market;
4. Being able to drive my car to Coles and fill up the boot with a week's worth of groceries and not having to go back for a whole week;
5. Being able to jog around Princess Park with my hubby;
6. Seeing my husband for the whole weekend (he works 6 days a week here);
7. My family and family gatherings;
8. Always having someone to visit on a quiet Sunday afternoon;
9. Freshly brewed coffee that is made properly;
10. An abundance of green areas, parks and bike tracks;
11. Yarra Valley winery trips;
12. Bakeries that know how to make proper bread;
13. Hearing nothing but trees rustling and birds chirping when I open the window;
14. A backyard and house to live in;
15. Enduring friendships (so many people seem to leave HK all of the time).
I was actually saying to hubby yesterday how much I miss our Melbourne life. He says we will live there again...one day! I haven't felt homesick at all since we moved here but now that I am pregnant homesickness has set in big time.
Like others, I also find cultivating friendships hard. In Hong Kong the friends we make always seem to be busy or away (or leaving HK permanently) and organising dinners/catch ups always require great organisation. I miss the spontaneity of a quick text and an hour later meeting up for Sunday afternoon beers with friends!